U.S. EPA Announces Over $735 Million Funding for Zero-Emission Heavy-Duty Vehicles
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Dec. 11 announced over $735 million in funding through its first Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program to deploy over 2,400 heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) across several states and Tribal Nations. The agency made 70 tentative selections, covering nearly 30 states and three tribal nations to receive funding for heavy-duty ZEVs and infrastructure development. The program, funded by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, is intended to replace internal combustion engine heavy-duty vehicles with zero-emission alternatives.
Currently, more than three million Class 6 and 7 vehicles are in use and many of these emit higher levels of harmful pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter, and greenhouse gases compared to newer vehicles. Addressing pollution from heavy-duty vehicles safeguards the health of 72 million Americans living near truck freight routes, according to the agency.
Older vehicles using internal combustion technology that pre-date recent EPA emission standards are eligible for replacement under the program. In addition to the purchase of ZEVs, the program also funds the construction of ZEV-charging and fueling infrastructure, as well as workforce training for ZEV repair and maintenance.
Around 70 percent of the selections for the grant program are projects aiming to procure clean school buses. Among the selections, Boston Public Schools will receive over $35 million to replace 125 Class 7 heavy-duty diesel and propane buses with new ZEV buses. Saint Louis Public Schools will receive over $10 million to replace 30 Class 6 and 7 diesel buses. The agency will award $60 million to the North Central Texas Council of Governments for a rebate program to replace 234 existing vehicles with ZEVs.
This funding initiative is one of the largest from the EPA in recent months to accelerate the deployment of ZEVs in heavy-duty transport. In October, the EPA announced $125 million for its Diesel Emissions Reduction Act National Grants Program to reduce diesel engine emissions by adopting cleaner ZEVs. On Oct. 23, the EPA also awarded $250 million to the Clean Corridor Coalition to develop charging infrastructure for medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles along the Interstate 95 or I-95 corridor.
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